Dust collector for vacuum cleaners



July 9, 1935. 'r. P; CALHOUN 2.007518 DUST COLLECTOR ITOR VACUUM CLEANERS Filed Maya, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l [6 507- P626710 an Min July 9,1935.

T. P. CALHOUN DUST COLLECTOR FOR VACUUM CLEANERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 9, 1933 Patented July" 9, 1935.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DUST COLLECTOR FOR VACUUM CLEANERS.

Taylor 2. Calhoun, Worcester, Mass. Application May 9, 1933,,Serial No. 670,112

12 Claims. (01. 183- 52) This invention relates to dust collectors for vacuum cleaners, and more particularly to a construction which may be connected to the discharge nozzle of an ordinary household vacuum cleaner and which will serve to collect the dust delivered from the nozzle in an air blast.

It has heretofore been customary to utilize for.

paper bag is necessarily somewhat expensive.

Furthermore varidus difficulties have been encountered with constructions of this type. No paper. has-yet been discovered which is sufiiciently porous to avoid excessive back pressure Ron the vacuum cleaner fan and which at the sanietimehas adequate mechanical strength.

The bags are frequently punctured by sharp corners on furniture. Moreover, they become worn through by the abrasive action of the accumulated mass of dirt, and they often crack as a result of the constant flexing as the cleaner handle is moved up and down.

In an attempt to provide a practical construction it has been proposed to utilize a longtube which slopes upwardly from the vacuum cleaner nozzle to the top of a small paper bag, it being i the intention to deposit the dust in the bag through the action oi. the air blast. The tube in this prior construction is non-porous for most of its length. With such an arrangement there is :not sufllcient porous area. .available to relieve the air pressure. Furthermore only the "finer dust particles reach the bag, and the larger particles drop back and clog the tube andthe fan casing. r v

It is accordingly one object oi the invention to overcome these diiiiculties and'to provide a simy pie and inexpensive dust collector for, vacuum lated dust maybe readily removed withoutin an way exposing'the operator to the dust.

- It is a further object of the invention to provide a dust collector of ample mechanical strength which wilfprovide a large porous area for the discharge of air and which will include a comparatively small cheap bag' for the removal ness of illustration; cleaners which is so arranged that the accumiivide'a dust collector including a permanent filter bag in which the dust accumulates in normal operation and a bag of paper or other cheap. material releasably attached thereto, the parts being so arranged that by inverting the entire con- 5 struction the dust will be deposited in the paper bag, whereupon the latter can be removed and burned.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a dust collector which will besimple and 10 compact,"and which will present an attractive appearance when mounted on a vacuum cleaner.

With these and other objects in view, the invention resides in the combination of parts set forth in the specification and covered by the 15 claims appended hereto.

In accordance with-my invention I- provide a filter bag of a porous material, such as cloth.

which may beattached to the discharge nozzle of a vacuum cleaner in the usual manner. This bag is shaped to retain an. accumulated mass of dust and prevent it from dropping back into the fan casing. The fllterbag' is provided with a discharge opening, preferably at its upp r end, and a receptacle or'bag of paper or'othe'r cheap material is releasably attached to the filter bag in -a position to close this opening. flhe paper bag may be clamped to a rigid ring, preferably circular in shape, which is secured toithe filter bag. Inverting and shaking the filter bag will cause the dust to fall into the paper bag. which can then be removed and burned with the dust therein. The paper bag is preferably normally concealed and protected by a cover of cloth or other suitable material forming an upward exten- 5 sion of-tlie filter bag, and this extension mayhave a long slit normally closed by a slidable fastener another means. V

' Referring to the drawings illustrating one em bodiment of the invention and in which like ref- 4 erence numerals indicate like parts,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a vacuum cleaner with my improveddust collector mmmted thereon, certain parts being shown in section for clear- Fig. 2 is-a view 01' the dust collector removed from the vacuum cleaner, showing the method of transferring the collected dust .into the disposable receptacle; i

Fig. 3-is an end view of the dust collector:

Fig. "4 is a view showing the dust collector opened to allow access to the disposable" receptacle, the latter being shown in partial section .for clearness of illustration; I

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section througha portion 56.

3 7o oi the main body portion of the inter 01' the. dust collector, the section being taken on ring in ensuring a tight joint. The clamping the lineTS-S of Fig. 4; i. ring 32 may be tormed in two parts which are Fig. 6 is a detail of the clamping ring, shown hinged or jointed at 26, and one part may be in open position; 7 provided with a toggle clamp 31 which engages Fig. 7 is a-detai1 of the toggle clamp need with with a hook 38 on theother part and thus serves the clamping ring; to draw the parts together.

8 is a detail of the hinged joint in the For the purpose of concealing and protecting clamping ring; the paper bag 29, I preferably provide a cover 42 Fig. 9 is a detail the clamping ring, shown of cloth or other suitable material forming an up- 10 in closed position; and ward extension of the filter bag 2|. This cover 4. Fig. 10 is a detail of the supporting ring, shown. is formed witlna long slit or opening 4| therein in section. through which access may be had to the paper In the drawings I have illustrated a vacuum bag. A slidable fastener 42 of the well-known,

' cleaner of the ordinary household type compris- Zipper type provides a convenient means for ing a'fan casing 2| l provided with a forwardly closing the slit. It will be noted that structurally and downwardly extending suction nozzle and the filter bag 28 and 'cover' 40 form an inclined a rearwardly directed discharge nozzle 22. -An tubular member having an opening at its upper electrieqnotor 24 is mounted in the rear of the end, and the flexible annular member 22 extends fan casing and serves to operate a fan (not around and is secured to the interior of the tubushown) of the usual construction. Wheels 25 are lar member intermediate the height thereof.

shown beneath the motor to support a portion of In order to support my improved dust colthe weight thereof. An operating handle 26 is lector on the'vacuum cleaner, I preferably-prohinged to the motor and fan casing assembly and vide means whereby the upper end of the cover 42 extends rearwardly therefrom, being free to swing may be releasably attached to the vacuum cleaner 25 up'and down in a vertical plane as is customary handleji. For this purpose I have shown a in machines 01. this type. .I'hese various parts small spring 45 attached to the cover 42 and are all well known in the art, and hence do not adapted to engage a hook 46 on the handle 2.. require detailed description or illustration. The operation of the invention will now be ap In order to collect the dust discharged from parent from the above disclosure. Thedust col- 30 the nozzle 22 and at the same time allow the air lector is mounted on the vacuum cleaner is shown to escape, I provide a filter bag 28 of a suitable in Fig. 1. Dust is drawn in through the nozzle 2i p r us ma al u h as cloth, whi h is n all by the fan and discharged in an air blast into the supported in an inclined position on the vacuum filter bag 28. v The air escapes through tlieporous a The lower inlet end of he ba is wall ofthe bag, and the dust accumulates in a provided with a restricted inlet neck 23 to which heap 21 at the bottom of the bag. when it is dea collar 20 is secured. This collar is provided sired to empty the bag, the motor will be with opposed hooks '39 or other suitable means the spring removed from the hook 4i, and the whereby it may be, releasably attached to-the nozcollar 3|! disconnected from the nozzle 22. ,Ihe ale 22. As shownin Fig. l, the bag 28 is so shaped operator will then invert the filter bag, prefer- 40 that-in normal operation, it will retain an accumulated mass of dust 21 which is delivered to the bag in an air blast from the nozzle22. This dust cause the accumulated dust to drop through the .collects at the bottom oithe bag and "slightly in ring 3i and intothe receptacle 29. The slidabie the rear of the inlet neck 23. .fastener 42 will then be pulled around to uni'asten After a considerable quantity oi. dust has been' the slit 4|, so that the cover 40 may be turned collected, it is necessary to empty the bag. In order that this may be done without the necessity for exposing the dust to the atmosphere, I form the bag with'a discharge opening which is preferably located at the upper end of the bag opposite to the inlet neck 23, and I provide a receptacle 29 which may be releasably attached to the bag in a position to close the discharge openin'g., This receptacle is shown as a comparatively small bag, and it may be formed oi paper or other inexpenfor the receptacle and prevent any undue strain sive material. The paper is preferably somethereon. what porous, as this will reduce the back pressure on the vacuum cleaner, but a non-porous that I have provideda dust collector which can paper may be used if desired. be conveniently emptied without touching the dust 50 In order to facilitate the attaching of the reor exposing it to the atmosphere. The paper bag ceptacle 29 to the filter bag 28, I preferably prois fully protected and concealed by the cover, and videarlgid circular ring 2| (Figs. 5 and 10) which since no dirt accumulates in this bag in normal surrounds the discharge opening in the filter bag. operation, it is not subjected to the abrasive action This ring is considerably larger than the inlet, of accumulated dirt. The filter bag is fully capacollar 20 and it is permanently secured to the ble of withstanding constant fiexingas the cleaner filter bag by sewing or otherwise. In the prehandle is moved, and provides alarge porousarea ierred construction illustrated the ring 2| is sefor the discharge of the air. cured to an annular member 32 of cloth or other filter bag serves to retain the accumulated d fiexible'material which is fastened to the interior and prevents it from dropping back into the fan The clamping ring can then be released'allowing the receptacle 28 to be removed and destroyed with the dust contained therein. A new receptacle can then be attached to the filter bag.

It will be noted from an inspection oi. Fig. 4, that the relative sizes oi the receptacle 2! and cover 40 are such that when the filter bag is inverted and shaken the cover will form a support receptacle 2! is shaped to fit over the outside oi inexpen ive to'manuiacture, and attractive in exthe-ring 3|, and these parts are firmly but releastemal appearance.

ably held together by means of a clamping ring Having thus described my 23. The ring II is formed with a circumferential claim as new 7 groove 36 which cooperates with the clamp ns .Patent is:

invention what I and desire to secure by Letters ably grasping the collar 30 as indicated in Fig. 2 and shaking the bag up anddown. This will ag. The casing. The entire dust collector is simple and back as shown in Fig. 4 to expose the receptacle 2|.

From the above descriptionit will be apparent Furthermore, the

1..A dust collector comprising a porous filter bag provided with an inlet openin and a discharge opening and shaped to retain accumulated mass of dust, and a receptacle releasably' attached to the bag and closing the discharge opening, the receptacle being normally free from contact with accumulated dust, and the parts being so constructed and arranged that changing the position of the filter bag will cause the dust todrop into the receptacle, which can then be removed and destroyed.

2. A dust collector comprising a filter bag formed of porous cloth and provided with an inlet lower end and a discharge opening at its upper.

end, the bag being shaped "to retain an accumulated mass of 'dust, and a receptacle releasably attached to the bag and closingthe discharge opening, the receptacle being normally free from contact with accumulated dust, and the parts being so constructed and arranged that inverting the filter bag willcause the dust to drop into the receptacle, which can thenbe removed and destroyed. a

4. A dust collector comprising'an inclined porous filter bag having a discharge opening at its upper end and an 'inlet neck at its lower end providedwith a collar which is adapted to be' connected to the discharge nozzle of a vacuum cleaner, the bag being shaped to retain an accumulated mass ofdust below and adjacent to the inlet neck, and a receptacle releasably attached to the bag and closingthe discharge opening, the receptacle being normally free fromcontact with accumulated dust, and the parts being so constructed andarranged that suspending the bag by the collar will cause the dust to drop into the receptacle, which" can be removed and destroyed. a

5. A dust collector comprising an inclined porous filter bag having an inlet neck at its lower end and a discharge opening at its upper end, the bag being shaped-to retain'an accumulated massof dust below and adjacent to, the

inlet neck, a collar secured to the inlet neck and adapted to be'conn'ected to the discharge nozzle ot a vacuum cleaner, arigid annular member secured-to the bag and surrounding'the discharge opening, and a receptacle releasably attached to the annular member and closing the discharge opening, the receptacle being normally free from contact with accumulated dust, and the parts being so constructed and arranged that suspending-the bag by the .collar will cause the dust to drop through the annular member and into the receptacle, which can then be removed and destroyedr 6. A dust V porous filter bag having an inlet hook at its lower end and a discharge opening at its ,upper end, the bag being shaped to retain an accumulated mass of dust below and adjacent to the inlet neckfa circular collar secured to the inlet neck and adapted to be connected to the discharge nozzle of a vacuum cleaner, a'circular ring secured collector comprising an inclined" to the bag and surrounding .the discharge opening, the ring being considerably larger in diameter than the collar, and a receptacle releasably attached to the ring and closing the discharge opening, the receptacle being normally free from contact with'accumulated dust, and the parts being so constructed and arranged that suspending the bag by the collar will cause the dust to drop through the ring andinto the receptacle, which can then be removed. and destroyed.

7. A dust collector comprisin'g an inclined porous filter bag having an inlet opening at its lower end and a discharge opening at its upper end, th bag being shaped to retain an accumu-' lated mass oi! dust, areceptacle releasably at:-

the filter bag and normally serving to conceal and protect the receptacle, the cover having an opening therein through which access may be had to the receptacle, the parts being so constructed and arranged that inverting the filter bag will cause the dust to drop into thereceptacle, which can then bev removed and destroyed.

8. A dust collector comprising n inclined-filter bag of porous cloth having an nlet opening at its lower end and a discharge opening at its upper end, the bag being shaped to retain an accumulated mass of dust, a paper bag releasably attached to the filter bag and closing the disend and a discharge opening at its upper end, the

bag being shaped to retain an accumulatedmass oi! dust, a receptacle releasably attached to the bag and closing the discharge opening, a cover forming an upward extension of the filter bag and normally serving to conceal and protect the receptacle, the cover having a long slit therein through which access may be had to the receptacle, and means including a slidable fastener tor closing the slit, the parts being so constructed and arranged-that inverting the filter bag will cause the dust to .drop into the receptacle, which can then be removed and destroyed.

10. A dust collector comprising an inclined pobag will cause the dust to drop into .the receptacle, which can then be removed and, destroyed, the

cured to the inlet neclfand adapted to be connected to the discharge nomle of a vacuum cleaner, the tubular member having an opening at its upper end, means for maintaining thev opening normally closed, a flexible annular member ex- -5 'tending around and 'ecured to the interior 0! the tubular member intermediate the height thereof,

' a rigid ring secured to the annular member, and a bag located within the upper portion of the tubu- 15 moved and destroyed.

12. A dust collector comprising an inclined tubular member formed of porous cloth and having a restricted inlet neck at its lower end, a collar secured to the inlet neck and adapted to be con- I nected to the discharge nozzle oi a vacuum cleaner, the tubular member having an opening at its upper end, means for maintaining the normally closed, "a flexible annular member extending around and secured to the interior of the 5 tubular member intermediate the height thereoi', a rigid ring secured to the annular member and having an opening therethrough considerably larger than the opening through the collar, and a paper bag located within the upper portion oi the 10 tubular member and releaaably att whed to the ring, the lower portion of the tubular member being-shaped to retain an accumulated mass of dust, and the parts being so constructed and arranged that inverting *the tubular member will it cause the dustto drop into the bag, which can then'be removed and destroyed.

'rarmn P. cannons. 

